Cart

ABSTRACT

In a cart comprising a fabric body and a tubular frame, wheels are located behind the body, and are prevented from coming into contact with the body by protective fenders which also serve as braces for holding the frame elements in rigid relationship to each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of my copending application Ser. No. 939,398, filedon Sept. 5, 1978, and now U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,585, dated Sept. 16, 1980.My applications Ser. No. 155,391, and Ser. No. 155,392, filedsimultaneously with this application are also divisions of Ser. No.939,398.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a cart of the type comprising a body of fabricor other flexible sheet material and a supporting frame made up ofaluminum tubing or a similar rigid material. The invention has utilityin cleaning up leaves, grass cuttings and other debris in the yard.

Various carts having fabric bodies and tubular frames have been proposedfor use in gathering leaves and the like. Examples of such carts arefound in U.S. Pat. No. 2,992,011, dated July 11, 1961 to A. F. Becan andU.S. Pat. No. 3,388,919, dated June 18, 1968 to N. A. Waag. A commoncharacteristic of these prior carts is the fact that the section offabric which supports the load is supported from the front edge of theframe, which is in turn connected to the wheel axle by longitudinalframe members extending along the edges of the load-supporting sectionof fabric. Another common characteristic of these prior carts is thefact that the wheels are located laterally to the exterior of the fabricbody.

In these prior designs, since the frame members run longitudinally alongthe sides of the load-supporting section of the fabric body, the load isnecessarily carried by a large expanse of fabric. The fabric has to bevery strong in order not to tear under repeated large loads. Deformationof the fabric by the load also results in the formation of a depressionor pocket which impedes dumping of leaves and cuttings by the forwardtilting of the cart. The location of the wheels laterally to theexterior of the fabric body in these prior designs means that theoverall lateral dimension of the cart is quite large for a given loadcapacity. This makes the cart unwieldy and difficult to store, even inthe folded condition. Furthermore, the wide separation of the wheelsmade these prior carts somewhat difficult to maneuver.

The cart in accordance with the invention comprises a scoop-shaped bodyof flexible sheet material such as glass fiber-reinforced polyethylene.The flexible sheet material is formed so that the body has an openfront, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and side walls extending upwardlyfrom the bottom wall. The transition between the various walls need notbe well-defined. A pair of wheels is provided, the wheels beingrotatable on an axis located adjacent the intersection of the rear walland the bottom wall. The frame comprises a first substantially rigidframe member extending from the front edge of the bottom wall to thewheel axis, and a second substantially rigid frame member extendingsubstantially from the wheel axis at least to the upper edge of the rearwall. The first frame member preferably extends underneath the bottomwall of the body and preferably comprises at least two rigid membersextending longitudinally from the front edge of the bottom wallsubstantially to the location of the wheel axis. These rigid members arelaterally spaced from each other, and are also spaced laterally inwardlyfrom the side walls of the body so that they provide direct support forthe load, relieving the stress on the flexible sheet material. Theselongitudinally extending members also prevent the formation of largepockets in the bottom of the body which impede dumping.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that thewheels are located behind the body, and laterally inwardly with respectto the locations of the side walls. This feature gives rise to a morecompact construction, making storage of the cart easier, and improvingits maneuverability. It is also structurally advantageous to have thewheels located adjacent the longitudinal rigid members of the firstframe member. In accordance with the invention, means are provided forpreventing contact between the wheels and the body which also serve asbrace means connecting the first and second frame members and holdingthem in rigid relationship to each other. These brace means are locatedbetween the flexible sheet material and the wheels.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a more compact andmore maneuverable cart.

It is also an object of the invention to improve the load-carryingcapability of a cart having a flexible body.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the formation of largepockets which impede dumping of material from a cart having a flexiblebody.

Also among the objects of the invention are the simplification of thestructure of a cart, the improvement of durability, and various otherobjects which will be apparent from the following detailed descriptionwhen read in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique perspective view of a preferred folding cart inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an oblique perspective view of the frame structure of thecart;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the frame in an open condition;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation showing the frame in an open condition;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the frame in an open condition;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the frame in a partially folded condition;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the details of atightening mechanism for the fabric body of the cart;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating further details ofthe tightening mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken on the plane 9--9 of FIG. 3 andshowing the details of the protective clamping means at the front edgeof the bottom wall of the body; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one of the foldingbraces in the fully opened condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, the cart comprises a scoop-shaped body of flexiblesheet material having a rear wall 12, a bottom wall 14 and side walls 16and 18 extending upwardly from the opposite edges 20 and 22 of bottomwall 14. Side wall 16 has a substantially vertical front edge 24, andside wall 18 has a similar front edge 26, both of these front edgesextending upwardly from the opposite ends of front edge 28 of bottomwall 14 to provide the scoop-shaped body with an open front.

The transition between rear wall 12 and bottom wall 14 need not bewell-defined, and can take the form of a sloping surface 30 as shown inFIG. 1. Likewise, the transition between the side walls and the bottomand rear walls need not be well-defined.

Preferably, the body is formed from three sheets of flexible materialsewn together. Desirably the bottom wall 14 and the rear wall 12 areformed from a single sheet of material. The side walls 16 and 18 aresewn to this single sheet, so that seams are formed along the bottom andrear edges of the side walls. Reinforcing hems are provided at 32 and 34along the front edges of the vertical walls, and at 36 and 38 along thetop edges of the vertical walls. A tubular hem 40 is formed at the topedge of rear wall 12, and receives a tubular cross-member 42. Cut outs44 and 46 are provided in tubular hem 40 to permit connection of tubularmember 42 to rear frame member 48.

The body can be made from any one of a wide variety of flexible sheetmaterials such as canvas, glass fiber-reinforced polyethylene or variousother types of reinforced plastics.

Referring to FIG. 2, a pair of wheels 50 and 52 are rotatably supportedat opposite ends of an axle 54, axle 54 defining an axis of rotation forthe wheels. The axis of rotation is preferably located adjacent animaginary line which would be formed by the intersection of rear bodywall 12 and bottom body wall 14 if the rear wall were extendeddownwardly and the bottom wall were extended rearwardly. Wheels 50 and52 are preferably provided with semi-pneumatic rubber tires, and aresupported on axle 54 for rotation by suitable bearings, for example PTFEor Nylon bearings.

The frame comprises two substantially rigid frame members pivotallyconnected together substantially at the location of the wheel axis. Thepivotal connection is most easily accomplished by connecting the framemembers directly to axle 54. The first frame member comprises a pair ofrigid lengths 56 and 58 of aluminum tubing. These lengths of tubingextend longitudinally underneath the bottom wall of the body from thefront edge of the bottom wall to axle 54. Axle 54 extends throughtransverse holes near the ends of members 56 and 58 so that thesemembers are pivotable about the axle in vertical planes. Members 56 and58 are spaced laterally from each other, but are spaced laterallyinwardly from the side walls of the flexible body. In a typical carthaving a bottom wall width of 36 inches, the center lines of members 56and 58 are spaced from each other by 16 inches, and each is spaced fromthe nearest side wall by 10 inches. Members 56 and 58 are locateddirectly underneath the bottom wall of the body, and serve to transferthe load directly to the wheel axis, relieving the flexible material ofthe body.

Element 56 is bent outwardly at a right angle at bend 60 adjacent thefront edge of the bottom wall of the flexible body to provide a clampingsection 62. Member 58 is similarly bent in the opposite direction at 64to provide a clamping section 66. These laterally extending clampingsections 62 and 66 are secured by screws and wing nuts to a transverselength of tubing 68, which acts as a protective clamping member securingthe front edge of the bottom wall of the body to the framework, and atthe same time, protecting the front edge of the flexible material fromdamage. Length 68 of tubing also acts as a structual member of theframe, securing the forward ends of elements 56 and 58 in fixedrelationship to each other. An additional length 70 of tubing is securedto tubing 68, and is aligned with and located between sections 62 and66. The intermediate portion of the front edge of the bottom wall of thebody is clamped between tubing lengths 68 and 70.

The other principal frame element 48 comprises an inverted U-shapedtubular member, the width of which is slightly larger than the distancebetween bottom frame elements 56 and 58. Member 48 is similarly pivotedon axle 54, the axle extending through aligned holes in the lower endsof the two vertical sections of element 48. Element 48 extends abovetransverse tubular member 42 forming a handle.

The vertical elements of frame member 48, which are perpendicular to thewheel axis, are spaced inwardly with respect to the side walls. When theload is being transported and the cart is tilted backwardly, thesevertical elements function, in the same manner as members 56 and 58 ofthe bottom frame member, to support the load and relieve stress on theflexible sheet material.

Since the two principal frame elements are pivotally connected togethersubstantially at the location of the wheel axis, the upper edge of therear wall, which is secured to transverse tubular element 42, can bebrought into close proximity to the front edge of the bottom wall, whichis clamped by elements 68, 70, 62 and 66. When the cart is in its opencondition as shown in FIG. 2, the frame elements form an obtuse anglewith each other (about 100° ). The principal frame elements can belocked in this relationship by collapsible braces 72 and 74.

A reinforcing element 76 is connected between the vertical elements offrame member 48 at a location below tubular member 42 and behind therear wall of the body. The main purpose of this reinforcing element isto insure that the lower ends of frame member 48 are held in rigidlyfixed relationship to each other, such relationship being important forproper and reliable operation of the collapsible braces.

A third frame member 78, which comprises a substantially rigid U-shapedaluminum tube supports the side walls. Member 78 is supported inU-shaped brackets (see bracket 79 in FIG. 4) underneath elements 56 and58, and is pivotable therein so that its side elements are movable invertical planes. The upper ends 80 and 82 of the respective sideelements are secured to the front upper corners of the side walls of thebody by means of screws and wing nuts, the screws extending throughsuitable grommets provided in the corners of the flexible sheetmaterial. The rigid interconnection between the side elements of framemember 78 insures that they are prevented from moving laterally relativeto each other, and thereby prevents the side walls of the body fromcollapsing toward each other.

FIG. 3, which is a top plan view of the frame in its open condition,shows the relationship between bottom frame member elements 56 and 58and the side elements of U-shaped member 78, the latter being locatedoutside and against the side walls of the flexible body. This figurealso shows the positions of wheels 50 and 52, which are locatedlaterally inwardly with respect to the side walls of the body. In FIGS.3 and 4 it will be observed that collapsible braces 72 and 74 arelocated respectively adjacent wheels 50 and 52, and both above and infront of the wheels so that they function to prevent contact between thewheels and sloping surface 30 of the flexible body. The collapsiblebraces thus serve a multiple function: they lock the principal frameelements into the open position shown in FIG. 4; they help support theload; and they also serve to protect the flexible material of the bodyfrom damage by the rotation of the wheels, and therefore allow thewheels to be positioned inwardly with respect to the side walls forgreater compactness and greater maneuverability than would otherwise bepossible.

Preferably the collapsible braces are positioned so that, when the cartis in the opened condition and loaded, they conform to and contactsurface 30 of the flexible body and thus aid the principal frameelements in supporting the load.

As seen in FIG. 3, brace 72 comprises two lengths 84 and 86 of aluminumtubing. Brace 74 is similarly constructed from lengths 88 and 90 ofaluminum tubing. For an understanding of the construction and operationof these braces, reference may be made to FIGS. 3, 5 and 10, showing thedetails of brace 74, it being understood that brace 72 is similarlyconstructed.

As shown in FIG. 10, brace 74 is connected between a vertical element offrame member 48, and member 58 of the rigid frame member underneath theflexible body, these members being pivotable on axle 54.

Element 88 is pivotally secured at its lower end to frame member 58 bymeans of a pivot pin 92, which can be made from a bolt or similarfastener. Element 88 is rotatable about an axis which is substantiallyparallel to axis 54. Element 90 of the brace is similarly pivotallysecured at its upper end to frame member 48 on pivot pin 94, and issimilarly rotatable about an axis which is substantially parallel toaxle 54. These elements are hinged together on pin 96 at an intermediatelocation between frame members 48 and 58.

While brace member 90 can be relatively short in length, the length ofbrace member 88 is such that its upper end 98 reaches and comes intocontact with frame member 48 when the frame is in its fully openedcondition as shown, i.e. when the principal frame members are at anangle to each other of about 100°. Desirably, the length of brace member88 is such that its upper end 98 contacts frame member 48 only when thebrace elements 88 and 90 are moved slightly beyond the parallelcondition in the direction of unfolding the cart. This is the conditionillustrated in FIG. 10, wherein the brace elements are not preciselyparallel with each other. Since the brace elements can be pushed beyondthe parallel condition as unfolding of the cart proceeds, they provide atoggle action by which the principal frame members can be locked andheld in the open condition, and yet readily unlocked for folding bylifting end 98 of the brace (and the corresponding part of the oppositebrace) away from frame member 48.

From FIG. 5 it will be observed that brace element 88 and the left-handvertical element of frame member 48 overlap each other. Positioningelement 88 in this way so that its upper end contacts frame member 48eliminates the need for complex parts to produce the locking action. Theupper brace element 90, being to the left of frame member 48, is ideallypositioned to act as a fender over wheel 52 for the protection of theflexible material of the body.

Referring to FIG. 6, which shows the frame in a partially foldedcondition, the bottom frame member (comprising element 58) is foldedupwardly toward rear frame member 48. U-shaped support 78, the positionof which is determined solely by the flexible material of the body whenthe cart is open, remains between the principal frame members, and thelengths of elements 42 and 68, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, are desirablysuch as to overlap the ends of U-shaped support 78 to insure that itremains between the principal frame members when the cart is folded.When the cart is folded, the principal frame members are very nearlyparallel, and the cart can be stored in a relatively small space.

The manner in which the flexible material of the body is secured to theframework is best illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. 8,tubular hem 40 is formed at the upper end of the rear wall of the body,and tubular metal element 42 extends through the tubular hem in order tosecure the body to the rear frame member.

In order to take up slack in the side walls, an adjusting means isprovided comprising eye bolt 100, ring 102, and flexible strip 104, sewnat 106 (FIG. 7) to hem 38 along the upper edge of side wall 18. Loop108, formed in strip 104 is linked to eye bolt 100 by ring 102. Shank110 of the eye bolt extends through element 42, and is secured by nuts112 and 114 on either side of element 42. The length of shank 110 issuch as to allow a range of adjustment for the tension in seams 38 and32 (FIG. 1) respectively along the upper and front edges of side wall 18in order to take up slack in the side wall. The tension produced by thisadjustment is carried entirely by the reinforcing hems, and no force istransmitted through the seam at the intersection of the side wall andthe rear and bottom walls or any other seam.

Side wall 16 on the opposite side of the body is similarly tensioned bymeans of an eye bolt at the opposite end of element 42.

As shown in FIG. 9, the front edge 28 of bottom 14 of the flexible bodyis clamped between frame element 66 and clamping member 68 by means of abolt 116, which extends through elements 68 and 66 and is secured by awing nut 118. This bolt extends through a grommet 120 provided at thefront edge of the flexible material of the bottom of the body. Referringto FIG. 1, similar grommets are provided along the front edge forreceiving bolts 122, 124 and 126, bolt 122 serving to secure element 68to frame element 62, and bolts 124 and 126 securing clamping member 70to element 68. Additional bolts 128 and 130 are provided to secure theextreme ends of clamping element 68 to frame elements 62 and 66. Bolts128 and 130, however do not pass through grommets in the flexiblematerial. Rather, grommets 132 and 134 are provided in vertical hemsections 34 and 32 respectively, and are secured to bolts 128 and 130respectively by wire loops 136 and 138.

The flexible body can be removed and replaced readily by releasing thefront edge of the bottom, the upper front corners of the sides and theupper edge of the rear wall, these being the only points of attachmentto the framework.

Longitudinal frame elements 56 and 58, which underlie the bottom of theflexible material of the body provide the cart with a greatly improvedload-carrying capability by providing direct support for the load. Whiletwo such members are generally adequate for carts having a side wallspacing of 36 inches, additional longitudinal supporting elements can beprovided, and may be desirable in wider carts.

Longitudinally extending elements 56 and 58 also prevent the load fromcausing the bottom of the body to bulge downwardly, forming largepockets which impede dumping of the cart when it is tilted forwardly.Lateral sections 62 and 66 of these elements also serve as part of theclamping means for the front edge of bottom wall 14 of the body.

All of the elements of the frame member underlying the bottom of thefabric body lie substantially in a plane which is inclined upwardly fromprotective clamping element 68 toward the rear of the cart. Theinclination of these elements insures that minor irregularities andobstacles underneath the body but behind the front edge of the bottom donot hold the front edge off the ground making it difficult to rakeleaves, cuttings and other debris into the cart.

The compactness of the cart is greatly enhanced by the positioning ofthe wheels behind rather than to the sides of the body. This is madepossible by the protective function of the collapsible braces. Thecollapsible braces also assist the longitudinal elements of the bottomframe member in supporting the load.

When the cart is tilted rearwardly for transporting the load, the loadis supported not only by the bottom frame member and the collapsiblebraces, but also by the rear frame member 48.

Element 68 also performs a multiple function in that it is used not onlyto secure the front edge 28 (FIG. 1) of the flexible bottom 14 to theframework, but also protects front edge 28 from being damaged by thetines of a rake or by abrasion occurring in the process of dumping thecontents of the cart.

Various modifications can be made to the structure specificallydescribed. For example, the collapsible braces can be reversed so thatthe longer element of each brace is connected to the vertical rear framemember rather than to the bottom frame member. The wheels can bepositioned between the vertical elements of frame member 48. Variousother modifications can be made in the materials used and in the frameconfiguration, as well as in the body configuration, without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A cart comprising:a scoop-shaped body of flexible sheetmaterial, said body having an open front, a bottom wall, a rear wall,and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall; a pair of wheelsrotatable on an axle located adjacent the intersection of said rear walland said bottom wall; frame means comprising a first substantially rigidframe member connected to said axle and extending substantially from thefront edge of said bottom wall to said axle, and a second substantiallyrigid frame member connected to said axle and extending from said axleat least to the upper edge of said rear wall; brace means connectingsaid first and second frame members and adapted to hold said first andsecond frame members in rigid relationship to each other, said wheelsbeing located behind said body and laterally inwardly with respect tosaid side walls, and said brace means being located between saidflexible sheet material and said wheels, and preventing contact betweensaid material and said wheels.